Some notes on MA Mictlan update

[Baalz]

Actually the Nahaulli becomes (IMO) the goto commander for non-capital recruiting in MA - they've got astral (and mesmerize before you’ve done any research). I think it'd be pretty cool to have flocks of flying communion slaves, I just never can bring myself to go with Nahaulli over Mictlan Priests in EA/LA...MA is a different story. With S/N coutails (presumably) leading the communion you're gonna have a hard time doing too much unsupported (and you've got no flying troops)...but S/N/A is a whole different story. This would give Mictlan some real teeth mid game just as their recruitable troops are starting to become obsolete (about the same time their blood economy begins kicking in EA/LA). Communion strength, to my mind, also fits the lawfulness/order theme. I also don't think it's going to be terribly hard to get moonvines, 25% of the coutails could forge them and it's not like you'll often need too many.

[Kristoffer O]

I though Mictlan was bit boring and weak, but have realized that they have lots of interesting stuff and options (they will still get their new stuff, don't worry).

I'm surprised to hear that people are not impressed with Couatls. I play MA Mictlan in my current MP game and I have been pleasantly surprised several times, by couatls, nahuallis, the priests in general, and available options. Only thing that has struck me as not very impressive are the jaguar warriors.

Hmm, I think I'll comment a bit:

Since you dont have blood, you will research other paths. Alteration is great. Luck, body ethereal, haste, wooden warriors, swarm, battle fortune, and later on frozen heart and blindness for all those little priests you have everywhere. This will make your priests war mages, instead of blood gatherers and researchers. I think that suits my play style . Thau is also nioce for site search and panic (which is quite good vs indeps at least).

Couatl: Great unit, flies to every battle in wich you need him. Bring a couple of gems for power of the spheres, battle fortune, haste on your jaguars. Have him cast Vine ogre, in the fortress of your choice. Most other priests tend to get stuck at one place, if there are terrain hinders.

Nahualli: Likewise. Turkey-rain on your enemies. With swarm, wooden warriors and panic they are very nice. Excellent to quickly replenish your gem supplies in your front lines. Particulary fire gems for your sun priests and nature gems for your swarmers.

Sun priests: Great. Cost 130 since they are not as powerful priests. With phoenix power and some gems they can cast flaming arrows on your slingers.

Mictlan Priest: Dirt cheap. Much more useful with a couple of random lvl1 than some B! mage in combat. Can be used to swarm, frozen heart, blindness, luck, phoenix power+fire spells etc.

Jaguar warriors: I have a F9D9 blessing, and it's been rather unimpressive . I've been bladewinded to nothingness, and I'm way more impressed with my eagle warriors who actually arrived to wreak some havoc before they died. Only when I sucessfully got some wooden warriors cast on the Jaguars or when i got swarm and gems to cast it did some of them arrive at the far end of the battlefield.

Priest king: Useful for indy conquest. Very nice smiter at start. You need them to bless as well. Quite nice with panic.

Over all you have very cheap mages, that are also sacred. None very powerful, but powerful enough to participate in a war, and cheap enough to be expendable. It is also quit fun to have a wide array of mages in a battle. If you only have fire magic you don't have that many options.

I'm pleasantly surprised about the nation.

Surprises:
- my slingers, that were great when fighting indys, were suddenly mashed when they met air blessed sidhes
- my jaguars, that never were many enough to actually arrive at the enemy blade wind casters or their defenders

[Meglobob]

If you had took W9 blessing your jaguar warriors would have reached the otherside of the battlefield and been more impressive.

However with that D9 on your pretender you can get Tartarians going for the late game and ghost riders, plus whatever else you can come up with...oh joy...

[Shovah32]

W9 bless would have got your jaguars there faster, S9 would have made them even tougher(twist fate+second form means they take alot of hits before going down) and more resistant to some spells, a minor air bless (air queens, fog warriors, staff o' storms ect) would also have helped a little but not hugely.

Your F9D9 jaguars should, however, be very capable when it comes to taking down enemy thugs ect.

Also: How much did you shield your jaguars?

[Jazzepi]

Jaguars are amazing with a water bless. It allows them to move very quickly. If MA Mictlan is going to get casters capable of casting arrow fend, I can imagine jaguar only armies storming across the continent.

Jazzepi

[Jazzepi]

Actually, I can't quite imagine an recruitable army I'd fear more than an *** ton of jaguar warriors backed up by fog warriors, arrow fend, mist, and storm.

Jazzepi

[Kristoffer O]

But I didn't want watewr , I wanted death . It annoys me that F9 is better than death!

Hmm, atm thay have switched places with the eagle warrior as home only. Intend to test it tomorrow.

[Jazzepi]

Quite honestly, I think the D9 bless is pretty ***. 2 points of damage that gets resisted by MR? I think you should just take away the MR check, up the damage, or change the effect.

Jazzepi

[Kristoffer O]

Baalz, BTW, one of the greatest moments of the game was when I stormed Bandar . That made me think Eagle warriors are totally cool! Pity on you not having priest though. I would have liked to see those gandharvas under bless They were pretty hard without support.